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OGDEN — When looking at last season’s disastrous 2-10 record, Weber State’s new coaching staff would be wrong to not create a sense of competition for playing time.
After all, the Wildcats ranked near the bottom of the Big Sky in several major categories, and found it tough to create any sense of consistency in their performance. With that, new head coach Jay Hill and his staff are working to make competition a big part of Weber’s spring football — to make the Wildcats into a team that competes every single snap.
“Football should be fun for these guys,” Hill said. “Quite frankly, when we took over, a lot of these kids looked like whipped dogs, 2-10 will do that to you, so we’re trying to instill fun back in the game. And, with that fun comes a heightened intensity, and they’re flying around, they’re having fun and they’re working hard.”
With a large number of underclassmen on the roster, with more recruits expected to join the team in time for fall camp, there is obviously a great deal of uncertainty as to who will start at several key positions.
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Hill said he has noticed good competition in a variety of position groups.
“I think we’ve got two quarterbacks playing well, in Jadrian Clark and Austin Chipoletti,” said Hill, noting probably the offseason’s biggest position battle. “I really like out running backs; we’ve got three or four backs that can play and they’re battling. There are probably four corners (defensive backs) that are all, I believe, good enough to win with, and they’re battling to see who is going to get the most playing time.”
Chipoletti, who started every game but the first two last season (Stephen F. Austin and Utah) at quarterback, said he has gotten stronger in the offseason to better endure the season.
“Every offseason, you want to think you did something special,” said Chipoletti, who is a sophomore. “As a team, we got better in the weight room; we got stronger. (I) saw some tremendous gains in the weight room.”
He said he needs to use the spring to better acquaint himself with the new offensive system Weber is running this season under coordinator Steve Clark.
“I wholeheartedly believe if you’re going to have a good spring, then it will definitely lead into the season,” Chipoletti said. “I definitely think it’s a big deal to have a good spring and then finish off with a bang.”
Spring is also a time to get into better shape, to differentiate yourself from others in the same position group. Running back Bo Bolen had a good return last season from an LDS mission, but admitted he spent much of the year out of “football shape.” Now, Bolen said he feels much better prepared for the season.
“I feel like I’m in better shape,” said Bolen, who finished with 596 rushing yards in 2013. “I’m still a little bit slower than before I went on my mission, but I feel like I’m a lot more prepared for this season. I improved my lateral movement. I put on probably 20 pounds of good weight, got a little bit stronger and a little bit faster.”
Even with the competition and individual improvement, Hill said Thursday there are still a variety of positions where Weber State needs improved play.
“We need to continue to develop depth (on the offensive line, defensive line and at safety),” he said. “We need to continue to work on our depth.”
